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| From FHL Class of 2007 at BC, Canada |
I am a marine phycology student (Phycology is the study of seaweeds and other algae) mentored by Prof Ichiro Mine and Prof. Kazuo Okuda at Kochi University, Japan and supported by MEXT: Monbukagakusho International PhD program.
My research is entitled:
"Ecophysiology and phylogenetics of monostromatic green algae along Kuroshio Current region, Japan."
- monostromatic=single cell layered;
- ecophysiology= ecological inferences as a cue for physiological phenomena;
- phylogenetics= Scientific classification based upon DNA sequence homology
- Kuroshio Current= World's second largest oceanic current (Warm, directed northward)
Overview Presentation
Appending my PhD thesis synopsis in this site is probably a good idea to serve as a general introduction to the sort of things I am doing right now. I would be glad if someone let me know their insights or questions, if any. Please feel free to discuss about this project at our google group: Monostroma (You may subscribe to the newsletter by filling your email address)
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PhD Thesis Synopsis
Felix bast, Kuroshio
Sciences Graduate School
Title:
Eco-physiology and phylogenetics of monostromatic green algae along Kuroshio
Current region,
Objectives:
1.To synthesize a monograph of Monostromatic green
algae found along Kuroshio Current region,
2.Detailed investigation on Biology of Monostroma latissimum isolated from
Proposed Studies:
1.Culture
studies of M. latissimum:
a)Physicochemical
in-vitro factors influencing growth and cell division rate of Monostroma latissimum.Strategy:
Optimum values for environmental factors (Temperature, Salinity, pH, Nutrient
concentration (Phosphate and Nitrate) and light intensity) will be finding out
for the growth of M. latissimum.Effect of these factors on cell division rate
of gametophyte will also be studied. Existence of heterotrophic growth will be
tested for M. latissimum
References:
·Bo R. Björnsäter Patricia A. Wheeler , Journal of
Phycology, Volume 26, Issue 4, Page 603-611, Dec 1990
·Stiig Markager Kaj Sand-Jensen , Journal of
Phycology, Volume 26, Issue 4, Page 670-673, Dec 1990
·Elijah Swift W. Rowland Taylor, Journal of
Phycology, Volume 2, Issue 3, Page 121-125, Sep 1966
b)Culture studies will be carried out to understand
its life histories emphasizing asexual life-history type. (Re-submission of
rejected paper in a different journal after revision). Strategy: Fine-structure of zooidogenesis, zooid germination and
early thallus ontogeny will be studied.
Reference:
·Eduardo J. Cáceres and Elisa R. Parodi (Journal of
Phycology, Volume 34, Issue 5, Page 825-834, Oct 1998)
c)Surface structures of microscopic sporophytes will
be analyzed through SEM. Differential attachment of sporophytes to substratum
will be studied, for a possible correlation of specialized surface structures
to its attachment. Strategy: Standard SEM analysis of sporophytes grown at different
conditions. Degree of attachment on different substratum (glass cover slide,
plastic Petri dishes, Rock) will be analyzing by inoculating with controlled
zygote concentration and counting final germlings.
References
·Factors influencing attachment of thermophilic
bacilli to stainless steel S.G. Parkar, S.H. Flint, J.S. Palmer, J.D. Brooks Journal
of Applied Microbiology 2001 90:6 901
·PRIMARY ADHESION OF ENTEROMORPHA (CHLOROPHYTA,
ULVALES) PROPAGULES: QUANTITATIVE SETTLEMENT STUDIES AND VIDEO MICROSCOPY1 Maureen
E Callow, James A Callow, Jeremy D Pickett-Heaps, Richard Wetherbee Journal of
Phycology 1997 33:6 938
·Carbohydrate regulation of attachment, encystment,
and appressorium formation by Pythium porphyrae (Oomycota) zoospores on
Porphyra yezoensis (Rhodophyta) Srinivasa Rao Uppalapati, Yuji Fujita Journal
of Phycology 2000 36:2 359
·THE STRUCTURE OF THE SPORES OF GIGASPORA
MARGARITA. II. CHANGES ACCOMPANYING GERMINATION R. J. SWARD New Phytologist
1981 88:1 661
·THE STRUCTURE OF THE SPORES OF GIGASPORA
MARGARITA. II. CHANGES ACCOMPANYING GERMINATION R. J. SWARD New Phytologist
1981 88:4 661
d)Existence of zoid-specific cell structures on the
asexual zoids, gametes and zoospores of M.
latissimum will be studied by Scanning Electron Microscopy. (Related study
on Cell surfaces of biflagellate gametes and their morphological changes during
fertilization of Bryopsis maxima
using a high-resolution field emission scanning electron microscope had already
been reported). Strategy: High resolution surface imaging of zoids by standard
FE-SEM protocols as per Miyamura’s paper.
Reference:
·Shinichi Miyamura et al, Journal of Phycology,
Volume 41, Issue 1, Page 114-125, Feb 2005.
e)Lunar rhythm in the gamete release will be studied
in-depth to understand the actual factor/s influencing the gamete release. Strategy: Rate of gamete release will
be analyzed for samples at various 1) period of drying (logic: Spring tides
during full moon days correspond to highest tidal-range and thus highest period
of drying). 2) light-intensities at dark-period of culture (logic: Full moon
days correspond to highest light intensity at night). 3) Biotic factors
(Seawater during spring-tides will be collected and its potential to trigger
gamete release will be analyzed).
References:
·Tatsuya Togashi and Paul Alan Cox, Tidal-linked
synchrony of gamete release in the marine green alga, Monostroma angicava
Kjellman, Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, Volume 264, Issue
2, 30 September 2001, Pages 117-131.
·DIFFERENTIATION OF ULVA MUTABILIS (CHLOROPHYTA)
GAMETANGIA AND GAMETE RELEASE ARE CONTROLLED BY EXTRACELLULAR INHIBITORS1 Johannes
Stratmann, Georg Paputsoglu, Wolfgang Oertel Journal of Phycology 1996 32:6
1009
·GAMETE RELEASE IS INCREASED BY CALM CONDITIONS IN
THE COENOCYTIC GREEN ALGA BRYOPSIS (CHLOROPHYTA) Svetlana R. Speransky, Susan
H. Brawley, William A. Halteman Journal of Phycology 2000 36:4 730
·AN ELECTRON MICROSCOPE STUDY OF GAMETE RELEASE AND
SETTLING IN THE COMPLANATE FORM OF SCYTOSIPHON (SCYTOSIPHONACEAE, PHAEOPHYTA)1 Margaret
N Clayton Journal of Phycology 1984 20:2 276
·RECENT ADVANCES IN FERTILIZATION ECOLOGY OF
MACROALGAE1 Bernabé Santelices Journal of Phycology 2002 38:1 4
·ION FLUXES AND MODIFICATION OF THE EXTRACELLULAR
MATRIX DURING GAMETE RELEASE IN FUCOID ALGAE Vladislav V. Speransky, Susan H.
Brawley, Margaret E. McCully Journal of Phycology 2001 37:4 555
f)Biotic/abiotic factors (including temperature,
salinity and co-culture with other algae/bacteria) influencing gamete release
from the gametophytic thalli and zoospore release from the microscopic
sporophyte will be studied. Strategy:
Rate of gamete/zoospore release from gametophyte/sporophyte respectively will
be analyzed with various combinations of: Temperature, Salinity, Hypoxia,
Sulphide concentration, Light intensity, Period of dehydration, Effect of
co-culture with other algae/bacteria isolated from its habitat.
References:
·G.M. Smith, On the reproduction of some
·Maria Grazia Corradi, Gessica Gorbi and Corrado
Zanni , Hypoxia and sulphide influence gamete production in Ulva sp. Aquatic
Botany, Volume 84, Issue 2, February 2006, Pages 144-150
g)Abiotic stress responses of gametophyte and
sporophyte will be studied. Strategy:
Fine imaging of cells (gametophyte/sporophyte) grown at different salinities,
temperatures and light intensities.
Reference:
·N. Hanagata, R. Matsukawa, M. Chihara and
2.Seasonality
of M. latissimum in Tosa bay.
In-situ growth and occurrence
of M. latissimum at 3 different
habitats and its relationship with abiotic or biotic factors, if any. (Paper
is being written)
Season at which thalli attains
maximum length was found to be different among 3 habitats sampled. This could
be due to seasonal fluxes in biotic or abiotic cues in the respective habitats.
Data on salinity was rather vague to reasonably establish a relationship
(diurnal variation was larger than that in annual average). I will be analyzing
following factors at same habitats during next season: Abiotic factors: Water quality (Biological Oxygen Demand, Dissolved
Organic Carbon, Phosphate and Nitrate concentration). Biotic Factors: Existence and type of invertebrate grazers that
feed on Monostroma thalli. In-vitro
growth rates of 3 isolates will also be finding out and comparing with that in
habitat.
In addition to the seasonality
in growth, I am also intending to study the annual variation of major nitrogen
pools, phosphorus, carbon, ash, and thallus water content in relation to
seasonal environmental changes.
References:
·H. A. Oyieke and J. O. Kokwaro,Seasonality of some species of Gracilaria
(Gracilariales, Rhodophyta) from Kenya, Journal of Applied Phycology Volume 5,
Number 1 / February, 1993 Pages123-124
·Brezo Martínez, Jose M. Rico (2002)
SEASONAL VARIATION OF P CONTENT AND MAJOR N POOLS IN PALMARIA PALMATA
(RHODOPHYTA)1
Journal of Phycology 38 (6), 1082–1089.
·Karl-Gunnar Rosell, Lalit M Srivastava (1985) SEASONAL
VARIATIONS IN TOTAL NITROGEN, CARBON AND AMINO ACIDS IN MACROCYSTIS
INTEGRIFOLIA AND NEREOCYSTIS LUETKEANA (PHAEOPHYTA)1
Journal of Phycology 21 (2), 304–309.
·William J Henley, Kenneth H Dunton (1995)
A SEASONAL COMPARISON OF CARBON, NITROGEN, AND PIGMENT CONTENT IN LAMINARIA
SOLIDUNGULA AND L. SACCHARINA (PHAEOPHYTA) IN THE ALASKAN ARCTIC1
Journal of Phycology 31 (3), 325–331.
·Makoto Mizuno, Kazuo Okuda (1985)
SEASONAL CHANGE IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF CELL SIZE OF COCCONEIS SCUTELLUM
VAR. ORNATA (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE) IN RELATION TO GROWTH AND SEXUAL
REPRODUCTION1
Journal of Phycology 21 (4), 547–553.
3.Distribution
of monostromatic algae along the Kuroshio-Current region.
Background:
Observation suggests that
distribution of Monostroma along
Japanese coast shows a correlation with the type of ocean current; dominant
species on Kuroshio Current coast is M.
latissimum while that on Oyashio /Soya current coast is M. angicava. Monostromatic green blades
also show a wider species diversity along oyashio current coast. M. latissimum had also been reported at
Mie prefecture (Segi T et al) and Philippine Is (Silva P.C et al) hinting that
its distribution might be influenced by the Kuroshio Current.
Proposition:
Samplings at sites along
region influenced by Kuroshio Current are intended during the next growth
season (Feb-May 2008) to study biogeographic patterns in their distribution and
abundance. Proposed sampling locations are: 1) Northern
References
·Silva, P.C., Meñez, E.G. & Moe, R.L. (1987).
Catalog of the benthic marine algae of the
·Walter H. Adey Robert S. Steneck , THERMOGEOGRAPHY
OVER TIME CREATES BIOGEOGRAPHIC REGIONS: A TEMPERATURE/SPACE/TIME-INTEGRATED
MODEL AND AN ABUNDANCE-WEIGHTED TEST FOR BENTHIC MARINE ALGAE , Journal of
Phycology, Volume 37, Issue 5, Page 677-698, Oct 2001
·Hans Pakker, Anneke M. Breeman, Willem F.
Prud'homme van Reine, Chris van den Hock (1995)
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TEMPERATURE RESPONSES OF CARIBBEAN SEAWEEDS FROM
DIFFERENT BIOGEOGRAPHIC GROUPS1
Journal of Phycology 31 (4), 499–507.
·Xiu-hua CHEN, Liang-sheng ZHU and Hong-sheng ZHANG
, Numerical simulation of summer circulation in the East
China Sea and its application in estimating the sources of red tides in the
Yangtze River estuary and adjacent sea areas Journal of
Hydrodynamics, Ser. B, Volume 19, Issue 3, June 2007, Pages
272-281
4.Re-visiting
family integrity of Monostromataceae.
Integrity of the family Monostromataceae
will be checked by physiological (cell morphometrics and pyrenoid count) and
molecular phylogenetical analyses of selected taxa, to address the question:
Does the variation in life-history pattern corresponds to its cytology or
molecular phylogeny?
Background
Our preliminary results show
that sexual and asexual life-history forms of M. latissimum are indistinguishable through ITS sequences hinting
that life-history divergence is rather recent in its phylogeny. As the species
identity of genus Monostroma is based
only upon life-history and thallus ontogeny, it would be interesting to
generate ITS sequence data of selected members and do a phylogenetic analysis
to establish authenticity of ITS tag while differentiating species with various
life-history forms.
Strategy:
Taxa will be selected based on
variation in life-history and/or thallus ontogeny. Species will be first
identified by confirming life-history/thallus ontogeny and axenic culture will
be maintained.
1.DNA extraction (QiagenQuick DNeasy Extraction Kit)
2.PCR amplification of ITS region (Hughey’s method)
3.Generation and interpretation of sequence data
from PCR products
References:
·Terumitsu Hori, COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF PYRENOID
ULTRASTRUCTURE IN ALGAE OF THE MONOSTROMA
COMPLEX, Journal of Phycology, Volume 9, Issue 2, Page 190-199, Jun 1973
·Melinda A. Coleman, Susan H. Brawley (2005) ARE
LIFE HISTORY CHARACTERISTICS GOOD PREDICTORS OF GENETIC DIVERSITY AND
STRUCTURE? A CASE STUDY OF THE INTERTIDAL ALGA FUCUS SPIRALIS
(HETEROKONTOPHYTA; PHAEOPHYCEAE)1
Journal of Phycology 41 (4), 753–762.
·Hillary S. Hayden, J. Robert Waaland (2002) PHYLOGENETIC SYSTEMATICS OF THE ULVACEAE
(ULVALES, ULVOPHYCEAE) USING CHLOROPLAST AND NUCLEAR DNA SEQUENCES1
Journal of Phycology 38 (6), 1200–1212.
·Geoffrey W. Woolcott, Masafumi Iima, Robert J.
King (2000) Speciation within blidingia minima (chlorophyta) in japan:
evidence from morphology, ontogeny, and analyses of nuclear rdna its sequence,
Journal of Phycology 36 (1), 227–236.
5.Industrial
recommendations and conclusion:
Results from the culture
studies (controlled zooidal release) are expected to be relevant on the
improvement of its commercial production. Distribution studies are also likely
to hint at new locations where the commercial cultivation of Monostroma is feasible. Though being
commercially cultivated for many years at Tosa bay and
References:
·沖縄産市販ひとえぐさ（Monostroma nitidum）の成分に関する研究 : 一般成分、無機質ならびにアミノ酸の測定: 琉球大学教育学部紀要第一部・第二部 Vol.39 p.373 -377, Nov-1991